After scoring a sensational goal on Saturday that had pundits struggling to find enough superlatives, Wayne Rooney's modest response was simply: "I wouldn't say it's my favourite."

The England striker's lob from just inside West Ham's half was reminiscent of a similar goal scored by David Beckham for Manchester United against Wimbledon back in 1996.

But when asked if his was better than Beckham's, Rooney quipped: "Of course."

On a day when 30 goals had already been scored in the Premier League, it might have been easy to believe that the late game between West Ham and Manchester United would be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show.

Evidently, Wayne Rooney had other ideas.

Barely 10 minutes into the game, the England striker outmuscled James Tomkins on the halfway line and let the ball bounce in front of him before launching a pin-point lob from well over 40 yards into the back of the net. Hammers keeper Adrian, who had strayed off his line, was left scrambling back in vain, his face sporting a look of stunned disbelief.

Cue photographers pointing their cameras up to the boxes where a watching David Beckham smiled wryly.

What they said: "What a goal by Wayne Rooney!!! Everyone in the stadium was looking at each other in disbelief!! How...what the...no way....wow!!!" - Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

Hull manager Steve Bruce was conducting his post-match media conference when he saw the goal on a monitor: "What a goal. You've gotta see that. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. You're never gonna see anything like it again.

Wait till you see this. That's more important than me. Wait till you see this. Wow. It's a Beckham. It's another Beckham one. [Long pause] Awwww, no! Look at the goalie! He's run the wrong way.

Wow Wazza. Wow. Wow. Wow. Jesus! Jesus!

David Beckham (Manchester United)

Wimbledon 0-3 Manchester United, Premier League - 17 August, 1996

In United's opening match of the 1996-97 season at Selhurst Park, Beckham spotted goalkeeper Neil Sullivan off his line to score a famous goal in United's 3-0 victory.

His response was to raise both hands in the air and understandably, smile smugly.

It was a goal that would instantly turn the young, floppy-haired midfielder into a household name.

What they said: "He just picked it up and hit it. I just realised it was going beyond me and it dropped under the crossbar and that was it. The whole Manchester United team at the time were special but but I didn't expect anything like that. I made that boy, but I still think he would have done all right without me!" - former Wimbledon goalkeeper Sullivan.